Brick Lane

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Brick Lane Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Weighty tearjerker with mature themes.

PG-13 2008 101 minutes
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Parents say

age 18+

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that although this powerful, thought-provoking drama -- which isn't too likely to be on teens' radar -- doesn't have much in the way of graphic nudity, swearing, or violence, it's fairly adult when it comes to its themes. It explores infidelity, terrorism, prejudice, arranged marriages, the immigrant experience, and tenuous parent-child relationships. It's unflinching in its portrayals of these issues, and their reality can be harsh.

Community Reviews

Ellebas
Ellebas Adult
July 9, 2020
age 18+

Not suitable for families

The movie itself is good in many ways but certainly NOT appropriate to watch with kids. I cannot recommend this to anyone below 18. Movie starts out with a scene of a mother who commits suicide by drowning which is witnessed by her daughter who narrates throughout the movie. It shows her mother going into the water and the next scene is her body floating and a group of women who rescue her. These scenes can be disturbing to some. There is another scene of the husband climbing on the wife to make love. Then in yet another scene the wife has an adulterous affair with a young man and he is undressing her, both naked in bed and kissing, caressing etc.,although full nude bodies are not shown it is plenty enough to see that they are naked and he is on top of her etc. Acting is good though and bad language is almost minimal. There is a woman who smokes, some scenes depicting racial slurs and a scene where the family is watching the 911 attack in New York as the 2nd plane flies into the 2nd tower. Overall conservatively speaking this is best for adults who like movies that explore cultural and social issues.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

To the beloved sister she left behind in Bangladesh, Nazneen (Tannishtha Chatterjee) is the adventurer sent to London to marry an educated man. But little do they know how small her world really is. She lives in the projects and rarely leaves her apartment, except to run errands for her family. Her much-older husband, Chanu (Satih Kausik), is indeed learned, but his knowledge is limited to books, and real life doesn't mesh well with his self-image. He loves Nazneen but cares more about how she serves his needs, and they don't have much in common besides their two daughters. When Chanu loses his job, scuttling plans to return home, Nazneen starts sewing for money, a decision that impacts her life in ways no one would have expected. With a post-9/11 world as a backdrop, Nazneen finally begins to explore life.

Is It Any Good?

What first seems like a predictable plot is quickly proven otherwise, bolstered by strong performances from nearly the entire cast. BRICK LANE (which is based on the same-named novel by Monica Ali) manages to take on ambitious topics -- love, poverty, feminism, immigration, even terrorism -- and transform them into an evocative, intimate viewing experience. Chatterjee does much with little: Nazneen doesn't have that many lines, but when she has something to say, it's potent. Just the look on her face when she's remembering a rare moment of bliss speaks volumes.

That said, the film takes a meandering route to explore what love means -- and what being a mother entails -- and a few spots don't ring true, starting with the stereotypical portrayal of a usurer. And in the end, when Nazneen appears to finally realize whom she loves, and how, the revelation is hollow. (It doesn't help that the film sets up the man she loves as a fairly pitiful, even laughable, character.) And although theoretically Nazneen's sister is a major character, because she's seen only in flashes, in no time, she almost seems unnecessary. And she's definitely not.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about complicated parent-child relationships. Did any of the scenes in the movie resonate? How do relationships change as children get older and become more independent? Families can also discuss some of the issues that the movie deals with. What do teens think about the idea of arranged marriage? How does their view compare to the one presented in the movie? Can you think of other movies that offer close-up looks at worlds as specific and -- to Western minds, anyway -- unusual as the one here? Are Nazneen's decisions believable?

Movie Details

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